Conveyer structure



Jan. 7, 1936. H. s. BOGATY "2,027,266

' CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1933 3 SheetsSheet l 1936-H. s. BOGATY CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1935 3 Shexets-Sheet 2 fzggri 447 Jim. 7, 1936. H s, B TY 2,027,266

CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. s, 1953 3 Shets-Sheet 3 PatentedJan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CONVEYER STRUCTURE Originalapplication August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,529. Divided and thisapplication June 15,

1934, Serial No. 730,837

9 Claims. (Cl. 198-181) This invention relatesto conveyerstructureparticularly adaptable for use in an improved apparatus for carrying outan improved process for blending and conditioning tobacco as disclosedin the applicants copending application Serial No. 683,529, filed August3, 1933, and of which the present application constitutes a division.

The structure forming the subject matter of the present application isparticularly adapted for use in conditioning tobacco which has beenformed into bundles each containing a predetermined number or quantityof leaves bound together at their stem ends, forming a head from whichthe leaves extend in more or less loose relation to each other.

In blending tobacco, to provide a mixture containing desirable qualitiesof two or more different varieties in correct proportions, it iscustomary to employ a long flat continuously moving endless beltconveyer comprising an upper carrying run and a lower idle return rundisposed in vertically spaced relation to each other, the belt passingaround suitable drums or pulleys at each of the opposite ends of the twovertically spaced runs of the conveyer.

Substantially one-half of the carrying run of the conveyer, toward oneend thereof, is at all times disposed within a conditioning chamberwhile the remainder of the carrying run of the conveyer is out in theopen and extends beyond the receiving end of the conditioning chamber,to provide a loading and/or blending station in the apparatus.

The several varieties of tobacco to be blended are contained inhogsheads or other suitable receptacles disposed along the blending orloading station, adjacent the conveyer. From the different receptaclesattendants take predetermined numbers of bundles of the differenttobaccos and place them in flat superposed and overlapping relation toeachother on the conveyer belt, as it passes by the sub-stationsoccupied by the respective attendants.

The loaded portion of the conveyer then passes into the conditioningchamber, wherein the tobacco is subjected to circulating currents ofmoisture-laden air by which the dry and more or less brittle tobaccoleaves are softened and prepared for subsequent processing and fromwhich the mixture is discharged into a hopper or on to another conveyerfor transportation to the apparatus by which the next step in theprocessing of the blended mixture is accomplished.

The capacity of such a blending and conditioning apparatus isobjectionably low, due to the necessity for keeping the layer ofsuperposed horizontally disposed and overlapping tobacco leavesrelatively thin on the conveyer, in order that the conditioning mediumwill penetrate to the center of the laminated layer.

Penetration to the center of the layer is at the best greatly retarded,and in thick layers prevented, by the overlapping relation of thesuper-' posed leaves, the uppermost of which presents a baffle, barrieror shed to downwardly moving 'is to provide a conveyer structure whichwill lend itself to increasing the capacity of the blending andconditioning apparatus and to the attainment of quick and substantiallyuniform penetration of the mass of leaves assembled on the conveyer, bythe conditioning medium, by making it possible to arrange the leaves insubstantially parallel vertical relationto each other for the passing ofthe conditioning medium through the mass of leaves in a directionlengthwise of the leaves.

The bundles of leaves are preferably disposed on the conveyer with theheads extending downwardly and the leaves extending upwardly therefrom,and the conditioning. medium is passedupwardly through the mass ofleaves, in order that the conditioning medium may penetrate all portionsofthe assembled mass substantially simultaneously by passing between theleaves contained in each bundle in its movement lengthwise of theleaves, which is made possible and facilitated by the provision of theespecially constructed conveyer forming the subject of the presentinvention which in its preferred form comprises a continuous seriesortraino-f rectangular box-like containers or chambers composed ofperforated metal plate or wire mesh fabric stretched on a suitableframework, each container including a substantially flat normallyhorizontal base and top and relatively fixed back and side walls, Whilethe front of each container is provided with hinged doors by which apredetermined number of bundles of leaves may be 10 moisture-laden aircurrents and the und'ermost confined in relatively close lateral andmore or less loose abutting relation to each other in the container,with the heads of the bundles resting on the horizontal base. a

In order to facilitate loading and unloading of the containers saidcontainers are connected to each other in a manner to permit relativetilting of the containers, first in one direction transversely of thenormal longitudinal path of movement of the train for loading purposes,then in an opposite transverse direction for discharging the mass fromthe interior of the containers.

By increasing the linear foot capacity of the conveyer and by passingthe conditioning medi um lengthwise of the leaves through the mass, thelength of the conditioning chamber may be proportionately shortened; andby providing the series of containers in a train the conveyer, insteadof running in a vertical plane as described above, is permitted to berun in a horizontal plane; and the return run of the conveyer, insteadof passing idly through or under the conditioning chamber, passes aroundand to one side of the conditioning chamber, whereby the return run isutilized for loading and unloading thereby placing the loading orblending station at the one side of the cnditioning chamber instead ofits being at and extending a considerable distance beyond the one end ofthe conditioning chamber as above noted. Thus the total length of theconveyer including the carrying and return runs, is reducedtosubstantially one-half or less than one-half of the total length ofthe conveyers of the prior art, which constitutes a considerable savingof expense relative to the initial installation and subsequentmaintenance.

The construction of the apparatus will be fully disclosed hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the preferred lay-out embodyingthe conditioning chamber and the loading and unloading, stations at theone side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic side elevation of the I apparatus shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3, Fig.2;

' Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4, Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken on theline 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the rectangular containers ofwhich the conveyer is composed;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the container shown in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the container shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing one of thecontainers of Figs. 6, '7 and 8 as being tilted outwardly to dischargethe contents of the container and the means for opening the doors of thecontainer;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the container shown in Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the door-locking mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11;

'Fig. 13 is a plan View of an automatic means for closing the doors ofthe conveyer baskets; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation taken on the line I4I4, Fig, 13.

' The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a casing Iincluding a bottom or floor 2, side walls 3 and 4 and a roof 5, whichcollectively form a chamber 6 through which tobacco is conveyed forconditioning.

Extending completely through the casing I from end to end thereof areinner and outer rail. sections II and I2 of a conveyer-supporting trackII), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The conveyer track I0 also comprisesinner and outer rail sections I Ia and IZa which are disposed outsideand to one side of the casing I. The outer rail sections I2, PM of thetrack ID are connected at the opposite ends of the casing I by curvedsections I 3 and I4 respectively. The inner rail sections II and Ha ofthe track I 0 terminate 15 adjacent the opposite ends of the casing I,in line with the pitch circles of sprocket wheels I5 and I6 which aredisposed in horizontal planes and rotate about vertically extending axesof drive shafts I! and I8, to which the sprocket wheels I5 and I6 arerespectively secured.

Running on and supported by the rails I I, Na and passing around thesprockets I5 and I6 is an endless conveyer chain 2U,'Whi0h, asillustrated in Fig. 7, comprises a series of links 2| having maleandfemale ends 22 and 23 respectively, which are adapted to be connected tothe ends of the adjacent links, to complete the endless chain 20, byvertically extending pintles 24.

Each of the links 2| is provided with a pair of 0 supporting rollers 25rotatably mounted in the link and adapted to ride on the upper surfacesof the rails II, Ila, and on horizontal flanges IM and I 6a of thesprockets I5 and I6 respectively, which are disposed in the samehorizontal plane 35 as the rails II, Ila of the track I0, whereby thechain 2|] will travel at all times in a horizontal plane as it passesalong the rails II, Na and around the sprockets I5 and I5.

Each of the links 2I carries one of the rectangular containers intowhich the tobacco is placed for conditioning. Each container comprises arigid skeleton frame 3| including a base 32, a top 33, a back 34, sidesand 36 and a front 31. The top, bottom, back and sides of the container30 are closed with wire mesh screen or perforated plate permitting freecirculation of the conditioning medium through the container asthecontainer is conveyed through the casing I.

The front 31 of the container is open and is adapted to be closed toconfine the tobacco within the interior of the container by doors 4!],40 which are hinged to the front 31 of the container 30 at 39, 39. Theinteriorof the container 40 is divided in half, to form compartments 30aand 30b, by a transversely extending perforated plate or wire meshpartition 38, extending from the back 34 to the front 31 of saidcontainer. Access to the said compartments 38a and 30b may be had byopening the doors 4%, 40 which respectively close the said compartments30a and 39b at the front thereof. 7

Springs 4|, 4| each having one end secured to one of the pivots 39 andthe opposite end bearing against the inside of the frame of each of thedoors 4!! tends to swing the doors open at all times, such tendencynormally being resisted and the door being locked in container-closingposition by a pin 42 projecting downwardly from each of the frames ofthe doors 4!! and engaged by a cam surface 43 of a latch 44 which ispivoted at 45 to the underside of the bottom 32 of the container 30. Thelatch 44 is provided with a handle 46 adapted for swinging the latchabout its pivot to engage the cam surface 43 with the pin 42, for

amazes Each container 30 is provided with a pair of 'depending hingelugs 48 which are pivotally con-- nected to hinge lugs 49, 49 carried byeach of the chain links 2|, by pivot pins 50:, 50..

Projecting downwardly from the central front portion of the bottom frame32 is a bracket 5| in which is. secured a stud or axle 52 for rotatablyreceiving a roller or wheel 53 which is adapted to ride on the outerrails I2 and I2a of the track I.

The loading of the containers 30 is accomplished at a loading station Dalong a section of that portion of the track III which is disposedoutside the casing I, intermediate the opposite ends thereof. Thereceptacles containing the different varieties of tobacco to be blendedare disposed ad jacent the track I0 along the iloading station D to bereadily accessible to the attendants loading .the conveyer consisting ofthe train of containers Each of the containers 3B is adapted to betilted rearwardly, as indicated in Fig.3, in one direction transverselyof the track I0 andfor this purpose a portion I2b of the outer rail I2ais elevated above the horizontal plane of the rail section I2. Theportion I2b iof the said outer rail is provided with an inturned flangeI20 disposed above andoverhanging the tops-of the container rollers 53,to prevent tilting of the containers 30 beyond a predetermined angle.

The containers 30 are tilted rearwardly' for the purpose of facilitatingthe loading of the compartments 30a and 30b of each. container'with thebundles of tobacco leaves from the various receptacles disposed alongthe'loading station D. In loading the containers 3llithe tobacco leavesof the several varieties are laidin an uprightposition against therearwardly inclined back wall 34 of the container with the heads of thebundles resting on the correspondingly rearwardly tilted bottom 32 ofthe container. The bundles are loosely packed in the container in thismanner until full, whereupon the doors 40, 43 are closed and locked bythe latches '44' by the attendant nearest the far end d of the loadingstation D, or automatically by means located near the said end of theloading station, as the train of containers moves in the direction ofthe arrow a, Fig. 1. r

The outer rail I2e is inclined as illustrated at I2d from the level ofthe one end of the elevated portion I20 to level of the curved endsection I3 of said outer rail, said curved section being in such a planerelative to the horizontal plane of the flange I5a of the sprocket I5 asto move the containers from the rearwardly tilted positions shown inFig. 3 to the substantially horizontal or level positions shown in Fig.4, as the sprocket I5 rotates and moves the'train of conveyer containersfrom that portion of the track I!) outside the casing I on to thatportion of the track within the casing I, said containers enteringthecasing I at the end E thereof and continuing in the level positionscompletely through the said casing, from which the containerssuccessively emerge at the end F thereof.

As the containers are carried around the sprocket I6 the curved end I4of, the outer rail of the track 'II) begins to fall away vertically andinwardly toward the axis of the sprocket, asindicated at Ida in Figs. 1.andv 2. The said curved portion Ma of the outer rail of the track l0merges with a compound curved portion I2e of ,the outer rail I2'a, whichin turn merges into a vertically disposed portion I 2f of the rail.

As the containers move around sprocket Hi the wheels 53 of thecontainers ride the inwardly descending portion Ha of the curved end Hof said rail, which causes the containers to tilt outwardly :asindicated in Figs. 2 and 5, and as the movement of the containerscontinues and the wheels 53 ride the compound curved portion I 2c of thesaid outer rail and on to the vertical portion I2 thereof the saidcontainers 30 are tilted to a position substantially at with respect tothe normal level position in which they travel through the casing I,such position being clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

As each container moves into a position wherein its roller 53 is inengagement with the vertical portion I 2 of the outer rail I 2a, thedoors 40? of the containers 30 are automatically opened by'the lugs 41aof the latches 44 engaging an inclined 25.

earn 55, which is supported in a fixed position adjacent the verticalportion I2) of the outer rail by a bracket 56, as clearly indicatedinFigs; 9 and 10. As the latches 44 successively release the doors 40 ofthe containers 30 the doors 40 are 30 swung open to the position shownin Fig. 4 by the springs 4| whereby the entire contents of eachcompartment of each container 30 is discharged from the container, inthe present instance on to the carrying run of a belt conveyer 60 bywhich 35 With the doors of the container open, the said containers thenpass from the discharging station G to the receiving end d of theloading..sta-- tion D, said containers being moved from the extremeforwardly tilted position in Fig. 4 to the: rearwardly tilted loading.position shown in Fig. 3,. by the wheels 53 riding an outwardly andupwardly bent compound curved portion I2'g of the: outer rail I2a.

The sprockets I5 and I6, either or both, may

be driven by any suitable motive power through any suitable type ofpower transmission, for driving the chain 20 continuously orintermittently, as occasion may demand or as may be desired,. forcarrying the train of conveyer containersalong the course and throughthe cycle of movements described above.

In a foregoing portion of the specification the doors 4!), 40 of thecontainers 3!] are described as being closed by the attendant nearestthe far end of the loading station D, or by automatic means located nearthe said'end of the loading platform. Such means is clearly shown inFigs. 13 and 14, wherein, as the containers 30 move along the. track II!in the direction of the arrow (1, Fig.1, and near the end d of theloading station D, with the doors 40 of the containers open, the ends41a of thearms 41 of the latches 44 engage a flared end I25a. of a railor angle bar I25 which is rigidly mounted adjacent and extends parallelto the rail I2a. of the track I0, see Figs. 22 and 23,. to

first assure the positions of the latches correctly for passage of thelocking pins 42 on the doors 40 into position to be engaged by the camsurfaces 43 of the latches.

The leading door 40a, i. e. the door toward the right side of eachcontainer is closed by the door engaging and outwardly flared end I26aof a rail I26 rigidly secured to, adjacent and above the rail I 2a ofthe track I II.

The trailing door, 1. e. the door toward the left side of each containeris provided with a lug or arm I2'I, which, as the container moves alongthe track III, engages a flared end I28a of a fixed rail I28,paralleling the rails I20; and I25, which swings the door 4% into aclosed position.

The doors are held in their closed positions by the rails IE6 and I28until the container reaches the extreme end 11 of the loading station D,whereupon the outer ends of the latch arms 46 engage a flared end I29aon a spring-pressed plate I29, which swings the latches 44 into theirdoor-locking positions before described.

The automatic door-closing attachment above described is preferable tothe manual closing of the doors, however, the doors may be closedmanually and the automatic closing attachment provided as a safety meansshould the attendant for some reason fail to close one or more of thecontainer doors, and in any event the springpressed plate I29 willfunction to press the latches 44 firmly into their door-lookingpositions before the containers are tilted forwardly from theirrearwardly inclined loading positions to their normal horizontal orlevel positions in which they travel through the conditioning chamber.

I claim:

1. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing aconditioning cham- -ber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal 40plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside thecasing along and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station,a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operativelyconnected substantially 16 rectangular containers each provided with aside door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression inone side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting thecontainers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, and anelevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers inan'opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of thecontainers.

' 2. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providinga conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal planelongitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casingalong the adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, aconveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operativelyconnected substantially rectangular containers each provided with a sidedoor for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression in oneside of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting thecontainers transversely, to discharge the contents therefrom, means foropening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, and anelevation along said side of the'track for tilting the containers in anopposite transverse direction along said station for loading of thecontainers.

'3. A blending'and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providinga conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal planelongitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casingalong and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, aconveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operativelyconnected substantially rectangular containers each provided with a sidedoor for loading and. unloading of the containers, a depression in oneside of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting thecontainers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means foropening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, anelevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in anopposite transverse direction along said station for loading of thecontainers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position formanual closing at a desired point along the loading station, and meansfor locking the doors in a closed position during travel of thecontainers through the conditioning chamber.

4. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing aconditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal planelongitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casingalong and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, aconveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operativelyconnected substantially rectangular containers e'ach provided with aside door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression inone side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting thecontainers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means foropening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, anelevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in anopposite transverse direction along said station for loading of thecontainers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position formanual closing at a desired point along the loading station, safetymeans for positively closing said doors at a predetermined point alongsaid loading station, and means for locking the doors in a closedposition during travel of the containers through the conditioningchamber.

' 5. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providinga conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal planelongitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casingalong and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, aconveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operativelyconnected substantially rectangular containers each' provided with aside door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression inone side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting thecontainers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means foropening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, anelevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in anopposite transverse direction along said station for loading of thecontainers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position, meansfor automatically closing said doors at a predetermined point along theloading station, and means for locking the doors in a closed positionduring travel of the containers through the conditioning chamber. I v

6. The combination of a continuous conveyer track disposed in a generalsubstantially horizontal plane, a series of individual containersconnected as a continuous train operating on said track and providedrespectively with side openings for loading and unloading of theconveyer,

doors respectively closing said openings, said track comprising a pairof container-supporting rails having relatively depressed and elevatedportions for tilting the containers transversely of the track tofacilitate and effect loading and unloading of the containers throughsaid side openings, and means adjacent said depressions for opening saiddoors.

7. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally verticalcontainers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path andeach having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a doornormally closing said opening and. pivoted on a vertical axissubstantially parallel to and adjacent the vertical edge of said sideopening, means connecting said containers for relative lateral rockingmotion with respect to said path, means for rocking the containers fromsaid normal vertical position to a substantially horizontal positionwith the door closed opening underneath, and means for opening said doorWhile a container is in said horizontal position to efiect discharge ofthe contents thereof through said side opening and substantiallyperpendicular to the path of movement of said train.

8. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally verticalcontainers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path andeach having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a pair ofdoors normally closing said opening and pivoted on vertical axessubstantially parallel to and adjacent opposite vertical edges of saidside openings respectively, means connecting said containers forrelative lateral rocking motion with respect to said path, means forrocking the containers from said normal vertical position to asubstantially horizontal position 5 with the door cloedopeningunderneath, and means for opening said doors while a container is insaid horizontal position to efiect discharge of the contents thereofthrough said opening and substantially perpendicular to the path ofmovement of said train;

9. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally verticalcontainers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path andeach having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a doornormally closing said opening and pivoted on a vertical axissubstantially parallel to and adjacent the vertical edge of said sideopening, means connecting said containers for relative lateral rockingmotion with respect to said path, means for rocking the containers fromsaid normal vertical position to a substantially horizontal positionwith the door closed opening underneath, means for maintaining said doorin its closed position, and means for releasing said door to permitopening thereof while a container is in said horizontal position toefiect a discharge of the contents thereof through said opening andsubstantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said train.

HERMANN S. BOGATY.

